Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Haunted Halberd
By: ChronoWeapon
Chapter 2: Rescue Mission! Lingering Malevolence
*Admiral Doo's War Blimp*
Kirby landed his Warp Star on the deck of Admiral Doo's War Blimp and as he and his party approached Admiral Doo, they witnessed him having a conversation with Argent Lady Sylvanya and Trade Regent Chapman. The party's presence was quickly noticed. "Kirby, thank goodness you're alright," Admiral Doo said with relief.
"Kirby and company, glad to see you again," Chapman said with a large smile that moved his puffy beard and mustache. "Have the Mekkai been restored?"
Kirby nodded, "Poyo, all better!"
"Good to know, it would have been really sad to loose such a fascinating people," Sylvanya claimed with relief. "Nevertheless, we have a much larger problem what with Meta Knight's Halberd."
"I heard. Have you seen anything at all about the others?" Tiff asked with growing concern.
"No, not one bit, the ship is moving, but it is very quiet, even the engines don't give off much noise," Admiral Doo said with bewilderment.
"It's as if the engines aren't working at all," Sylvanya followed in confusion.
"If they aren't running, then what's making it go?" Chapman asked puzzled.
"…Ghost power…?" Admiral Doo concluded.
"I was afraid you'd say that…," Chapman retorted with a slump.
"Kirby, this ship is afflicted with a vast amount of hate and malice," Sylvanya started. "I will accompany you to the ship but I will remain at the bow on the deck. When you find General Dee's men, I will help them escape, by transporting them back here to the blimp. I beg you to search every nook and cranny for them, they must be scared out of their minds," she finished with pity. "Before you go, just ask Chapman if you need some supplies. When you're ready I will follow you to the ship."
Kirby and the gang received replacement weapons from Chapman as well as some extra supplies. With a salute to the Admiral, Kirby and the team boarded the Warp Star and Sylvanya transformed her cape into angel wings and accompanied them. Sylvanya said a prayer and the team became wrapped in holy light. The team penetrated the hateful atmosphere unharmed and landed safely on deck. Sylvanya positioned herself on the bow of the ship and prayed until a circle of white soothing light was formed. "Bring the scientists here and they shall remain safe in this consecrated place. Once they enter I will transport them to the Admiral's blimp. May Palutena's blessing be with you!" she said with high hope.
Kirby and company left Sylvanya and began a slow and cautious trek on the deck of the ship. It was night time now and the only light available was the deep red crimson light that filled the engines. The air was thick with dark fog and felt heavy with negative emotions. As Kirby closed in, he caught sight of a shadowy figure on the bridge. It vanished before Kirby could make out any characteristics. "Did you see something Kirby?" Ribbon asked nervously. Kirby and his friends braced themselves as they scouted the deck for the missing Waddlekin, checking around its massive war cannons and missile batteries. As they continued, things seemed all too quiet until they neared the stern where they overlooked the rocket valves. The rocket valves were glowing, but not with fire as they usually would to promote propulsion. "Well, I think now we can conclude that this ship is not running under normal circumstances!" Tiff said nervously. Then suddenly, a noise came from a pile of crates that was stacked near a large metal door. The party quickly took notice and edged closer to the crates. With lumbering footsteps, four of the missing Waddlekin Scientists emerged from behind the crates and their eyes were widened and blank. They seemed to stare off into nothingness.
"They're bewitched!" Tiff said alarmed. She reached into her backpack and took out her Sage's Staff and transformed, gaining her white robes. With a wave of her wand she doused the scientists with a wave of soothing healing magic and they suddenly came to. Delirious and afraid, they reacted as though they had awoken from a nightmare.
"W-what happened?" one of them said shivering.
"It's okay you're safe now," Adeleine said soothingly. "Ribbon can you teleport them to Sylvanya?"
"Wait, before you do…!" shouted one of the scientists. "I don't know where I got this, or why I am carrying it…, but maybe you might know something about it?" he said handing over a piece of a broken object.
Adeleine took the object and found that it was a piece of a gold coin of some kind. "Eerie, but thank you, we'll hold onto this. You're up Ribbon!" Adeleine finished.
"You got it!" Ribbon said strongly. She chanted her spell and the scientists were transported to the bow of the ship. Ribbon then contacted Sylvanya through telepathy. "Did they make it to you alright?"
"Yes, they are here, bathing in the warm soothing light," Sylvanya responded soothingly. "Their nightmare has come to an end."
As the team finished the minor rescue the metal door creaked open eerily. Hesitantly, Kirby and his friends opened the door and entered into the dark reaches of the Halberd. The team trekked quietly through narrow corridors and catwalk stairs until they heard something coming from a large room up ahead. A sign on the wall directed them to the room, 'The Mess Hall'. As Kirby approached the sound of falling pots and pans could be heard. He let his gaze creep around the corner into the room and found the mess hall to be, for lack of a better word, a mess. With no threat detected Kirby and company entered with caution. Kirby began to inspect the room in more detail to make sure they were safe. He poked around some stray pots and pans on the ground and a sudden noise came from a broken refrigerator. Everyone shot their attention to the refrigerator. "Kirby, did you hear that?" Ribbon whispered softly.
"Poyo, Kirby check…," Kirby whispered back. Kirby tip-toed up to the refrigerator and he listened closely. He heard the lightest of shuffling within it. Ribbon grabbed the handle and Kirby swapped his abilities to the Water ability he copied back at the Mekkai Facility.
The door then suddenly sprung open without Ribbon's help and Kirby was greeted with a hammer swing and a war cry. Kirby just dodged the swing and leaped backwards. The party quickly noticed who the hammer belonged to, "Waddle Dee!" said everyone in unison. He was using his Crusader ability and he was pretty banged up. The refrigerator also held five more Waddlekin Scientists, who in turn tumbled out onto the floor.
Waddle Dee was overcome with relief, "Guys, is it really you and not some horrifying illusion?!" he said as he collapsed.
Tiff immediately doused Waddle Dee with her healing power, "Yeah, it's us, and are we glad to have found you!" Tiff said happily as Kirby helped him to his feet.
Two of the scientists approached the team with worried expressions of fear, "Um, do you guys know anything about this?" one said as both of them handed over two more pieces of the mysterious gold coin.
Adeleine took the both of them and tried fitting them together. "It looks like there's a picture of something on it," she observed.
"We don't know why we had those with us, but you can keep it if you figure out what it's for," said the other scientist.
"Don't worry, we'll figure it out," Ribbon said with encouragement. "In the meantime let me get you guys out of here!" she said as she teleported the five scientists to Sylvanya.
"Good, that's five more," said Sylvanya to Ribbon via telepathy.
"Oh thank goodness!" Waddle Dee said with a great sigh of relief. "I was trying so hard to find the exit! I almost ran out of strength a few times fighting off the evils of this place!"
"Evils, isn't it just a computer virus of some kind?" Ribbon asked curiously.
"Trust me, there's no computer virus here!" Waddle Dee began. "I've been fighting ghosts this whole time, from Mumbies and Skullers, to Horror Tramps and Cool Spooks, you name it! They always pick out the worst times to attack me!"
"Ghosts?" Ribbon thought puzzled. "That's strange those types of ghosts shouldn't have had the power to do what they did to the Mekkai."
"Are you saying that there's something else in here with us?" Tiff asked with worry.
"Oh there's something else here alright…," Waddle Dee interjected. "Can't tell what though, it's very cunning and persistent. Of those types of spirits we've met before, I've met something else that is quite frightening. Whatever they are they look like scrapped Mekkai bots, but the scientists I rescued state that there is now way they can be Mekkai. They say that due to the fact that most electronic portions are no longer even present. The scariest part is that they keep repeating the word, 'Hate' all the time in a deep horrific voice!"
"When we encountered the Mekkai all they said was 'Error', over and over," Adeleine claimed. "In their factory, Mecha Kirby translated the word 'Hate' from binary code that was being engraved into sheets of material on their machines."
"Guys, I think we all need to stick together for this one," Waddle Dee suggested. "No switching people out, go full on 'Raid' mode!"
"You got it, um…, by the way, where is Dedede and Meta Knight?" Ribbon asked with growing concern.
"Meta Knight got separated from us shortly after we left the bridge," Waddle Dee said worriedly. "I haven't seen him since. Dedede however, I just got separated from him not long ago. Last time I seen him, he was headed toward the engine room."
"Then that's where we're going," Ribbon settled with a renewed sense of vigor.
"Just make it outside the Mess Hall and we'll hit the trolleys," Waddle Dee informed. "The trolley system links all areas of the ship all we have to do is board one and it'll take us there."
The team then regrouped and made their way through the mess hall. It was much larger than they anticipated and the undead enemies kept them on their toes. Kirby managed to find two more scientists who after having their senses returned, shared some extra supplies with them. Ribbon then sent them on their way to Sylvanya. "Alright, that makes one fourth of the scientists!" Tiff said cheerfully.
"Good, I think we're making great progress!" Waddle Dee said as he wiped some sweat from his brow. The party then quickly put aside their cheering as they finally made their way out of the desecrated mess hall. They arrived in the bronzed mechanical tunnels that contained a trolley station. "Ah, finally, let's get aboard the trolley and head to the engine room!"
"Good, we don't want to leave Dedede without help for to much longer!" Tiff said worriedly.
Kirby and his party boarded the trolley and Kirby was so enamored by the shiny buttons he could not help but press one at random. An evil mechanical voice came forth, "Error, heading to Cargo Bay…"
Waddle Dee stared Kirby down, "Really, did you just…, with the buttons again?!"
The trolley locked itself down and sped down the rails. Within moments the trolley arrived at the station outside the cargo bay. The trolley opened its door but all computer systems were locking out any users. "I guess we have no choice but to scour the cargo bay," Tiff said nervously.
"I smell an ambush…," Ribbon deduced.
Kirby and his friends cautiously left the station and entered the cargo bay. It was filled with crates upon crates of equipment. The wild structure consisting of damaged stairs and catwalks did not help things either as it turned the bay into a twisted maze. Waddle Dee sighed nervously, "Ugh, this is the part where creepy things hide around corners isn't it?"
"Hmm, I'm not sensing anything, but let's be on our toes regardless!" Ribbon noted.
Kirby navigated the tight cargo bay with his friends close by as they listened closely and paid attention to their surroundings hoping they could avoid being taken by surprise. All seemed quite, but a little too quiet when compared to their previous endeavors, which worried them. Then suddenly, a loud rumble could be heard from the direction they came from and the party froze trying not to make a single noise. Kirby braced himself as another loud rumble came soon after. This caused everyone else to do the same. Then the loud rumble became loud heavy footsteps. In an instant a nasty explosion threw the area into disarray. Kirby and his friends quickly threw off the debris and what they saw was astounding. Tiff's eyes widened in shock, "Heavy Lobster, but how can that be?!"
Heavy Lobster was vastly different from their encounter on the first Halberd. Its body was colored a deep red and it was constructed from scrap parts that were harvested from the ship itself, space junk and even some Mekkai robots. Its massive claws resembled back hoes and its body parts were connected with electromagnetism as opposed to being a completely assembled machine. It had exhaust pipes, six of each side of its body instead of the wings it had before. The most shocking thing was the two knights who rode atop the claws. It was Axe Knight and Mace Knight. They seemed overcome by the presence aboard the ship and they were not themselves. "Crush, Kill, Exterminate, Exterminate!" said Mace and Axe simultaneously.
"HATE, HATE, HATE, HATE…!" roared Heavy Lobster.
"You guys, we can't fight in these closed quarters like this!" Ribbon claimed. "Quickly, run deeper into the cargo bay maybe we can find a way out!"
Instead of fighting back, Kirby and his friends retreated into the maze-like cargo bay. Heavy Lobster lumbered forth as it gave chase to the party. As the party quickly made their way through the maze, they heard voices coming from captured Waddlekin. "Ack, you guys there are more scientists around!" Waddle Dee alerted.
"Everyone keep eyes and ears open!" Ribbon commanded.
"Gotcha, hey I found one!" Tiff said as she saw a Waddle Doo hanging by a cable.
Tiff freed her and she quickly noticed Heavy Lobster, "What the heck, get me outta here!"
Ribbon transported her out just in time as Heavy Lobster caught up to the party. "Run!" Ribbon shouted.
The party managed to stay ahead of Heavy Lobster erstwhile finding more and more scientists who were trapped. After coming to, they each had something to say, "Great Goddess Palutena!" shouted another female scientist.
"W-what in the wild world?!" said a male scientist.
"I can't stand seafood!" said another.
Kirby and his friends managed to save another eleven scientists until the party came to the end of the ship where Heavy Lobster cornered them. "Well, you know what they say about a cornered Squeak!" Tiff said as she clicked her tongue and equipped her Mystic Broadsword.
"Ha, I can go all out now that I know all the scientists are out of the bay!" Waddle Dee said as he banged his mace and hammer together.
"Alright, it's time for a counter attack!" Adeleine said bravely as she transformed into her Ice Dragon form.
Axe Knight and Mace Knight leaped from their positions to face the party. Waddle Dee took on Mace Knight while Tiff took on Axe Knight. Kirby transformed into Crazy Cog Kirby and attacked Heavy Lobster with Adeleine at his side. Adeleine blasted Heavy Lobster with ice cold breath and ice blocks while Kirby smacked into the machine with the invulnerable strength of his new ability. Heavy Lobster was not without its own weapons. It attempted to blast its targets with red hot flames and welding torches. When they got to close it would swipe with its massive metal claws.
Waves of crimson colored energy emitted from the clashing of Axe Knights mighty ax and Tiff's broadsword. They traded powerful blows and found themselves evenly matched until that is, Tiff started using her sword with both hands. Waddle Dee was faring just as well. Mace Knight's weapon only seemed to collide with his Crusader's shield allowing him to counter with strikes from his own mace and hammer. Waddle Dee then taunted Mace Knight by tapping his hammer lightly on the ground, "COME ON, I EXPECT MORE FROM A META-KNIGHT!" he shouted strongly.
Tiff followed, "YEAH, ARE YOU GUYS SO OUTTA SHAPE YOU'D LET A COUPLE OF KIDS THROW YOU AROUND?!"
This caused the two knights to fall into a whole new world of anger as well as whole new level of power. They responded at the same time, "YOU WANT MORE?! YOU SHALL HAVE IT!"
"Kirby, I managed to freeze Heavy Lobster!" Adeleine shouted. "Now, hit it really, really HARD!"
Heavy Lobster was shaking the ice off very slowly as Kirby sped down all the way back to the beginning of the cargo bay. He stopped, turned around and began to rev up his cog form with extreme horse power. So much so, he bathed the area in sparks and turned red hot. Within a split second Kirby let loose and before Heavy Lobster could free itself from the ice, Kirby struck so hard that its entire left claw shattered into thousands of pieces. Kirby stood with a confident cheer as did Adeleine, "That's the way to do it Kirby!" she cheered with a dance.
Tiff and Waddle Dee collided in midair as they realized their taunt struck a nerve with their opponents. "Oww, okay, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to make them even madder!" Waddle Dee said with a tad bit of regret.
Tiff spit a little blood from her mouth, "Yeah, I wonder if they…, are jealous of us in some way?"
"Oh, what gave you that idea?" he snarkily asked.
"The fact that all of us were trained by Meta Knight might have something to do with it!" Tiff exclaimed.
"So wait, you don't think that they think we are some kind of…, 'replacements' for them do you?" Waddle Dee elaborated.
"Maybe so, maybe they think Meta Knight replaced them with us…," Tiff explained further.
"That's crazy, I doubt Meta Knight would treat his men that way!" Waddle Dee said with doubt.
"I know th-, whoa here they come!" Tiff warned with an interruption.
"What…, WHOA!" Waddle Dee shouted as he was brought out of his daydream with a front flip over Mace Knight's swing.
Kirby and Adeleine managed to freeze and destroy Heavy Lobsters other claw and in a rage its main body opened up to reveal rows of jagged metal that resembled teeth alongside a powerful heat cannon. "Aw crud…," Adeleine said despondently. It jumped up and down wildly and released waves of electrical energy with each landing.
Ribbon bit her thumbnail while she thought hard, "This battle is turnout out badly. Tiff and Waddle Dee are already auto-regenerating their health while the knights don't seem hindered at all. Heavy Lobster is now a raving machine that only Kirby can get close to. As for Adeleine…, wait that's it!" she thought with inspiration. "Adeleine don't forget about your Master Green transformation, it can absorb the electricity!"
"Gotcha, but I want to try something else first!" Adeleine said making a change to Ribbon's advice. Adeleine reverted back to her human form and found a safe place to take her paint brush out of her bag. She lifted it up high, "Paint Attack!" she announced.
The cargo bay was engulfed in a sea of rainbow colored elementally charge paints. When it subsided, Heavy Lobster and the knights were doused with blinding paint. Heavy Lobster was painted its original yellowish color as it moved wildly unable to see while the Axe Knight was painted blue and Mace Knight painted green. "Yes, it worked!" Adeleine shouted happily. Without the ability to see Kirby's party quickly overtook them. With one final attack from Kirby's fully charged Crazy Cog was all that was needed to shatter Heavy Lobster into an unsalvageable mess. Meanwhile Tiff and Waddle Dee used a 'Holy Sword Beam' and 'Smite' respectively to knockout their opponents. Ribbon took the opportunity to check on them. They were battered but otherwise, released from the supernatural force that bound them. "Hang on guys, I'm transporting you to Sylvanya. Axe Knight and Mace Knight were enveloped in light and they wearily teleported to safety.
Just as Ribbon finished, Sylvanya contacted her in her mind, "Ribbon, I thank you for finding the two knights, nevertheless, we have a new problem. A Combo Cannon has appeared on deck, and it looks like Sailor Dee is operating it. There are also two missile batteries, one on each side of the cannon that are operated by Trident Knight and Javelin Knight. They've taken hold in front of the bridge and… are aiming straight for me. I hastily request your presence!"
"Okay guys, back to the Argent Lady, double time!" Ribbon shouted.
"All right time for the Warp Star!" Tiff summoned.
The Warp Star came down to the party's aid and they boarded with haste. With some flashy maneuvers the Warp Star navigated the wreckage as it flew upwards and then broke the ceiling revealing the Argent Lady nearby. Sailor Dee's Combo Cannon shot a powerful blast that struck the Warp Star as it reached the peak height of its last maneuver. Luckily, Kirby and his party were unharmed as they leaped within seconds before Sailor Dee's attack. The party laded on deck and began regrouping. "Ahh, thank Palutena you've made it back so soon," Sylvanya said with relief. "Kirby, Sailor Dee and the other two knights have stationed the new Combo Cannon, now twisted into a Geist Cannon, in front of the bridge. They are in fact afflicted with the same hatred as the last two knights. You need to find a way to navigate the bow to even get close enough to attack. Admiral Doo informs me that this deck is like a maze thanks to all the turrets on board. He also says that eight more scientists have appeared on deck."
"Kirby, look!" Ribbon said as she pointed to a large stack of metal ammunition crates. "Those should give you your Metal ability. The huge defense given should be enough to block Sailor Dee's attacks!"
"It also looks like a ton of Wheelie Bikes are on the loose too!" Waddle Dee noticed. "Dedede must have done something in the engine room!"
"Kirby, the Wheel ability can reach Sailor Dee, but you have to make sure he doesn't hit you!" Tiff instructed. "Thankfully, there seems to be a lot of potential items to combine Wheel with here, and you've already got Crazy Cog with you!"
"Kirby, the Geist Cannon can be destroyed with three hard hits, just make sure you boost before you strike to make the hit count!" Sylvanya instructed.
Kirby transformed back into Crazy Cog form and Waddle Dee hoped aboard a Wheelie Bike, "Hey Adeleine, up for a ride? Just grab a Wheelie Bike with me and we'll rescue the scientists out there! Ribbon, Tiff, think you can assist Sylvanya, by keeping the undead off her? Sailor Dee is an expert among experts when it comes to marksmanship! He can even shoot down something as small as Air Riders with the Combo Cannon's main weapon, so stay on guard!"
"Right, I'll do whatever it takes!" Tiff said brandishing her broadsword bravely.
"Ready Adeleine?" Waddle Dee asked.
Adeleine painted her face with inspiration, "I'll do you one better Waddle Dee! I'll just transform into a Grand Wheelie!" she said as she transformed. She became the mechanical monster with bronzed plating and smoke stacks.
"NIIICE! That's even better!" Waddle Dee praised. "All right, let's go!"
With that, Kirby took off and began making his way across the deck. Waddle Dee and Grand Wheelie Adeleine assisted to rescue the scientists.
Ribbon instructed the party further, "Make sure you stay low Kirby, nothing flashy, if Sailor Dee's as good a marksman as Waddle Dee claims, then he'll shoot you if you give him a clear shot! I don't care how good a marksman he is if he doesn't have anything to aim at he can't hit you! So try to stay out of the air or you'll be knocked back!"
"Poyo, right!" Kirby responded as he rebounded off a corner and turned that harsh corner. Kirby tore through a small mini turret causing it to explode upon impact. The explosion forced Kirby into the air. Sailor Dee took the shot but missed by a hair. The missed shot destroyed a large sized cannon behind him. "Poyo, too close!" Kirby shouted as he began to avoid things that explode. He continued down narrow corridors and drifting around sharp corners until he made it to a flight of stairs. He was at the base of the Geist Cannon. Sailor Dee quickly took notice and began changing the main cannon's position to shoot Kirby. Luckily, he was not fast enough as Kirby boosted his ability and with a devastating take off, he slammed hard into the Geist Cannon. The following explosion was enough to jettison Kirby all the way back to Sylvanya. He landed unharmed as he regained control.
Kirby took off again and found that Sailor Dee had placed metal barriers up with a control switch changing direction of the course. As he continued with some skillful drifting and rebounding, Kirby made it to another flight of stairs, but this time he had arrived at Trident Knight's missile battery. He had taken a wrong turn, but this was still fortunate. Taking down Trident Knight would relieve pressure on Adeleine and Waddle Dee. Kirby boosted and slammed into the missile battery, destroying it. The following explosion was enough to propel Kirby back onto the deck while the unconscious Trident Knight was thrown nearby Sylvanya. Sylvanya took the opportunity to secure Trident Knight. This turned out to be a poor choice as Sailor Dee retaliated with a precise shot that struck her, Tiff and Ribbon. Tiff lost her broadsword and Ribbon was thrown to the deck floor. Sylvanya was heavily damaged as she began her healing prayers. "Bless you Sailor Dee, may you be free of this evil! Using your own teammate to get a clear shot at me," Sylvanya said as she prayed.
Ribbon managed to pick herself back up and heal both herself and Tiff. "Wow, he really is a good shot!" Ribbon complimented reluctantly.
"Yeah, and he's an opportunist too!" Tiff gnashed her teeth as she equipped her Sage's Staff. Tiff and Ribbon managed to pick themselves up before another wave of Mumbies and mechanical creatures came to greet them. Their healing spells made quick work of the undead, but the machines proved hardier.
Meanwhile, Kirby finally made his way back to Sailor Dee who was ready for him. Kirby boosted his ability as Sailor Dee charged his cannon's laser. Sailor Dee unleashed his attack at exactly the same moment that Kirby took off causing the two forces to collide. The two gridlocked each other until Kirby gave another push with a shout. Kirby outperformed Sailor Dee's attack and slammed into the Geist Cannon. As before, he was sent flying. He landed before Sylvanya and the others. "Great work Kirby, one more time ought to do it!" Ribbon cheered as Kirby took off again.
Kirby found that Sailor Dee had changed the deck even further this time around. Vents in the deck floor could lift Kirby up with steam making him a target as well as other traps that would do the same. Strangely, the new set of metal barricades guided Kirby to Javelin Knight's missile battery. He boosted and charged with incredible force. Kirby was thrown back onto the deck while Javelin Knight's mechanical body was thrown back to Sylvanya. He sputtered the word, 'Error' before he shut down. Trident Knight crawled over to his mechanical friend. "Oh Javelin, it will be over soon!" he spoke weakly. As Trident attempted to pull what was left of Javelin to safety, Sailor Dee fired a shot directly at the two. However, Tiff leaped in front of the blast with her Reflect Force active. After it subsided, Tiff was damaged and her Sage ability was lost, but everyone was okay.
Waddle Dee and Adeleine returned each with four scientists. "Look, we found them all!" Waddle Dee stated.
"Yeah, all that's left is for Kirby to deliver the last attack!" Adeleine claimed with a cheer.
The party then heard the sound of Kirby boosting his ability. "Which is about to happen as a matter of fact!" Ribbon added.
Sailor Dee's Geist Cannon supernaturally transformed like molding clay, gaining four barrels instead of one. Making it a pepperbox barrel, he took aim at Kirby. "I'm gonna blast you to PIECES!" threatened Sailor Dee. With a massive collision of power Crazy Cog Kirby and the Geist Cannon fought for dominance. With a sudden surge of power, Kirby lost the struggle and got blasted all the way back to his friend's location. Kirby transformed back into his normal state, "Poyo, too strong, need stronger copy!"
"Great, now what?" Waddle Dee said despondently.
"We better think of something quick, or we're dead meat!" Tiff said nervously.
"Hey guys, what's that strange light over there?" Ribbon asked as her eye caught something. A strange looking Wheelie Bike emerged from below deck, it gleamed with rainbow colored light as it wandered aimlessly, looking for a way off the ship. Kirby, intrigued by the strange more advanced looking creature decided to engage it.
"Kirby, I don't know what that is, but suck it up!" Tiff commanded strongly.
Kirby wasted no time in inhaling the wheelie. After doing so, something strange began to occur. Kirby's body also gave off the rainbow colored aura as he transformed. He gained a black bikers helmet with star prints on the sides and a black visor over his eyes, "Monster Wheel Kirby! Super Ability, Go, Go, Go!"
"Super ability, what's a Super ability, is that like Compound abilities?" Waddle Dee asked hoping for an answer.
"Well, let's wait and see…," Tiff said astonished.
Kirby activated his new power and he began to grow into a large wheel, a very large wheel. He became so large and covered in treads that he was big enough to take up both starboard and port sides of the ship. "Incredible!" Adeleine claimed as she gazed in awe at what Kirby had become. Kirby began rolling down the deck after Sailor Dee with a shout. Anything he ran over was flattened as if made of aluminum soda cans. Explosions were completely ineffective against this new ability. Even Sailor Dee's laser's bounced off harmlessly. Within a few moments, Kirby had made it to Sailor Dee.
"Noooo, NOOOOO!" shouted Sailor Dee as he was comically flattened along with his Geist Cannon. As quickly as it happened, Kirby reverted back to normal but without the Monster Wheel ability.
Kirby slumped to the ground with a sigh of relief, "Poyo, no more, all gone…," he said. Kirby approached Sailor Dee and he puffed back up again regaining his original body shape. Kirby then took his unconscious body back to Sylvanya.
Everyone regrouped as the saved scientists shared their access supplies with Kirby's party and Meta Knight's crew apologized for their actions. Adeleine now had five pieces of the mysterious gold coin and Tiff got back her Sage and Mystic Knight equipment. "I'm so sorry for this we just wanted to give Meta Knight a new ship!" Axe Knight sobbed.
"How did it end up like this?" Mace Knight added along with Axe.
"Truly a horrific experience, I hope Meta Knight will forgive us!" Trident Knight continued as he worked on Javelin Knight's repairs.
Sailor Dee approached Kirby and his party, "I thank you deeply for your help," he started. "I was with Vul on the bridge when the accident occurred. We were transported into space, to what looked like a field of space junk. I don't remember much after that. If you want to find the others, they shouldn't be to far off. Oh, and one more thing, there's a secret room somewhere in the engine room. Some extra supplies are store there, so feel free to help yourself if you find it. I'm going to go with the others back to Admiral Doo's ship and rest awhile. I have a splitting headache…"
With that, Sylvanya transported them and the saved scientists back to Admiral Doo's War Blimp. "All right Kirby, were almost done there should only be fourteen scientists left, Captain Vul, Dedede and Meta Knight," Sylvanya calculated strategically. "Then we can let General Dee blow this ship out of the sky!"
"So the General plans to blow it up?" Waddle Dee asked with surprise.
"Yes, he's already stationed the War Train on the mountain side and will fire its cannon as soon as everyone has been freed!" Sylvanya explained.
"Well, we better get moving!" Tiff urged.
"To the Engine Room, I hope Dedede's okay!" Ribbon said hopefully.
With that, Kirby and his party hastily continued their perilous trek across the Halberd. Upon reaching the bridge, they noticed the damage Kirby had done, "Wow Kirby, that Monster Wheel ability of yours nearly split the ship in half!" Adeleine said as she looked down into the fissure. It barely held together.
"I think it's safe to say that the trolley system no longer works now," Waddle Dee deduced. "Anyway, it looks like we can just climb down this fissure and make it to the engine room faster that way."
"All right, who's all for going into the scary hole of twisted metal?" Tiff asked with a comical smile.
Everyone raised their hand in approval and the party made their way down. Kirby managed to copy Yo-yo on the way down as well as free four more scientists. After a careful descent, the party reached a large steel door that ad a sign above it that read, 'Engine'. Something was off however; it was covered with frost as was the area surrounding the door. "Hey, why's the door got frost all over it?" Ribbon asked with concern.
Sylvanya chimed in with telepathy, "Ribbon, Admiral Doo has informed me that the ships rocket valves are all frozen on the outside! Be careful!"
"You think Dedede might have something to do with that?" Adeleine asked curiously.
"Not sure, but I guess we'll find out as soon as we open that door…," Waddle Dee said nervously.
*End of Chapter*
